Marcello Torres states matter-of-factly that "football can relate to life and stuff."

That discovery by the 12-year-old quarterback in a flag football league is exactly the point.

FRANK NIEMEIR / fniemeir@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Jeremy Weil (left) and Joe Geriner at practice at the Pace Academy in Atlanta.

FRANK NIEMEIR / fniemeir@ajc.com (ENLARGE)

Players from Boys & Girls Clubs practice flag football at Pace Academy in Atlanta.

LIVING Latest Headlines: Georgia Aquarium to welcome 10 millionth visitor  Aquarium adds 4 sandbar sharks to exhibit  Cellphones serve as '$300 baby rattle'  Athens ranked among best places to live  Jobless Atlantans stay busy volunteering  • More Living Stories • Living photo galleries • Georgia Aquarium news and photos • Zoo Atlanta news and photos

Work mates Joseph Greiner and Jeremy Weil of JPMorgan Private Bank started the league this summer for underprivileged kids and brought in inspirational speakers. Professional football players and coaches such as former Falcon Ronnie Bradford and Georgia Tech starting tackle Darryl Richard and educators talked to the children during the six weeks of the league.

"When Joe and I started up the camp, we wanted each of the six weeks to have a theme — academic achievement, goal setting, teamwork," Weil said.

Weil knew Joseph Baker, one of the founders of the nonprofit PlaySmart, when Weil was living in New Orleans several years ago and Baker was a Saints coach. PlaySmart teaches and encourages children to reach their potential through play.

"When I moved to Atlanta a little over two years ago, I started talking to [Baker] about working with his organization," Weil said.

He and Greiner started an Atlanta chapter of PlaySmart.

They recruited about 20 friends and co-workers as coaches, referees and mentors. They talked to Pace Academy, who gave them permission to use its athletic fields and which encouraged its students to help.

The Saturday football for boys and girls 9 to 13 years old from Boys & Girls Clubs began in June and ended last week.

Darryll Starks, a coordinator from the Clayton County Boys & Girls Club, said, "I've met some great volunteers in my time, but [Weil and Greiner] are two of the best. They are thorough, they understand the kids, and they have a great program."

Weil, who is 24, said, "Joe and I had been talking about wanting to take a leadership role in something outside of the office, and we knew it had to be something we were really passionate about."

Greiner, also 24, said, "You can get very wrapped up in your job ... so wrapped up you feel like you don't have time for anything else. It was important for me to actively get started in doing something for the community."

Weil said, "Once we started putting things on paper, it really took off."

The two raised $5,000 for the program.

Boys & Girls Clubs bused in about 60 players. The teams practiced and played two games each Saturday morning, followed by lunch.

It gave the kids and the coaches something to look forward to.

Marcello said if he were not in the league, "On Saturday, I would probably be home all day, doing nothing probably."